Universal grease gun



- 45 high pressure exerted upon Patented Nov. 20, 1.928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. FULTON, F IRVINGTON,

MENTS, T0 TITEFIEX METAL HOSE CO., A

UNIVERSAL Application led December This invention relates to apparatus for supplying grease to bearings and which are known as grease guns. n v Grease guns are used to a large extent in connection with automobiles because they provide a ready and cleanly lubricating means as well as a neat package for the grease.

- The grease holes of many bearings are so located that in order for the gun to be universally applicable to them, the container of the n must comprise a flexible outlet. The trou le with this isthat means for rendering the gun adaptable to grease holes has not been consistent with suitable grease resistant qualities with the result that attempts in the direction indicated have been unsatisfactory.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a grease gun universally adaptable to variously located grease which shall possess suitable grease resisting properties.

Metal is suitably gre p reservoir is commonly made of such'material but difiiculty is encountered with the universally applicable outlet. A continuous metal tube of sufficient thinness to provide the desired flexibility is so fragile that it is incapable bendings and stresses occasioned in the use of the grease gun and is practically prohibited from such use. A rubber conduit possesses the lnecessary flexibility and tightness, but is vulnerable to attack by the grease, rubber deteriorating quite rapidly when in contact with grease so that if subjected to any bending or stresses the conduit formed of such material soon becomes useless. Metal con- 40 duits for-med of helically arranged strip are suliiciently iiexibleand grease resistant, but, especially where rendered flexible by sliding in the seam or where the convolutions loosely fit together, there is sometimes, under the the grease, a small amount of grease forced outwardly between the convolutions thereby rendering the gun uncleanly and unsatisfactory.

According to the present invention a grease gun is provided having a universally applicable outlet comprising a ,flexible metal conduit presented to the grease and extending substantially throughout the flexible portion Y of the outlet, and about this flexible metal 5.5 conduitis placed a rubber covering which ase resisting and the the variously locatedholes and of withstanding the repeated- NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoE, BY MEsNE ASSIGN- CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. i

GREASE GUN.

12, 192i.. Serial No. 521,606.

permit flexing and, forinstance where the metal conduit is formed by helically disposed strip as above referred to, the rubber covering prevents any grease'which may exude between the convolutions from reaching the 'exterior of the gun and at the same time the rubber tube or covering is shielded to a great `extent from the deleterious action of the greaseso tha-ta practicable grease gun with a universally adaptable outlet is provided.

rlhe outlet comprising a metal inner tube surrounded by a rubber outer tube as described, particularly where the metal tube is formed of helically disposed strip, is vul# nerable to longitudinal stresses tending to elongate the conduit and also to torsional stresses tending to twist the conduit. Such action is liable to start or open wider any openings between the convolutions so that in addition to the mechanical injury which may be done to the tube by such stresses and strains, the grease upon the interior may exude between the convolutions against the rubber coating and so cause-a more rapid de# terioration. To relieve against this I prefer to place about the outlet formed of the interior metal conduit and rubber covering, rone or more strands secured atftheir endsto the couplings and wound helically about the conduit. If these strands are wound in opposite directions and braided together sightly, braided covering forvthe conduit is produced which reinforces the conduit against elongation and prevents twisting in either direction. y

The result is a universally applicable grease gun which is durable and neat.

Other and ancillary objects of the invention will appear hereina er.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate thev invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a grease gun partly broken away and with the reservoir partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 j on an enlarged scale; A y

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 upon the same scale as Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a fragment of the 'apparatus of Fig. 3- as will be hereafter referred to. d Y

Referring to the 'drawings the reservoir comprises a metal container 1 having at one y end an interiorly threaded nipple 2 and at the' ,0ther end acap 3 closing the end ofthe mit the tube to tubular portion 23 on the reservoir. Within the reservoir slides a piston 4 secured to the end of a screwthreaded rod 5. This rod is mounted in screw- .threade'd engagement with the cap 3 and is caused to move longitudinally and thus move the piston 4 back and forth by turning the screw 5 in one direction or the other (that is to make room for the grease or to expel it) by means of a handle 6 upon the exterior of the casing.

The construction of the outlet and its incor oration'into. the gun may be described as ollows:

Within the threaded central opening 2 which communicates with the interior o f the reservoir 1 is screwed a nipple 7 havin a grease opening 8 and a petticoat 9 wit in which a spring 10 presses packing 11 against the body 12 forming the other I'nemberof a swivel coupling formed by the sleeve 13extendin within the bearing 14 upon the body 12 am? having a head 15 preventing withdrawal vof the sleeve 13 from the bearing so that a swivel coupling is formed between the body 12 and the member having the sleeve 13. v

Screwed within the end of the body 12 )is a hollow plug 16 to which the flexible outlet, rendering the greasev gun universally applicable to variously located grease holes, issecured. Within the plug -16 is entered a flexible conduit comprisin the interior metal tube 17, formed of a he 'cally disposed strip .d

and having the edges of adjacent convolutions interfolded with clearances such that the interfolded end. About this metal tube is vulcanized a rubber coating or tube 18 which is vulcanized on to th'e metal tube under pressure and preferably a textile fabric 19 is pressed into the rubber during the vulcanizlng o eration although this 1s not essential. A ut the rubber coating lare Vwound in opiposite directions metal strands which are bra1 ed together so as to form a braided coverin 20 of strands helically wound about the rub er coating, some in one. direction and some in the other. This braided or interwoven covering 20 at one end has its strands' sweated or soldered to the plug 16. The rubf r covering and the metal conduit within it project beyond theinner-end of the lug and the pro]ecting portion is engaged y arubber band 22 which'surro11nds it and a againstthem to seal the joint by its elasticity.

To reinforce the tube and hold it in position a ferrule 24 is inserted in the end of the tube. This ferrule has-a` ilange 25 of sufficient width to cover the end of the tube and form a guard to prevent entrance of grease be- .tweenV the layers.

.At the other end of theloutlet is a swivel coupling 26 to which the tube formed of the inner metal conduit, the rubber coating and the metal outer braided covering are secured.

Lto make` a .tight joint Atight and parts may slide and thus perl outlet plug, being forced This coupling is precisely the same as that l to which the other end of the tube is secured and the tube is secured theretoin preciselyV further description sleeve 27 and at the other end of the sleeve are formed bayonet slots 28 for removably securin the sleeve to al plug or nipple 29 adapte to be screwed into a grease hole. Extending diametrically through the plug 29 is a bar 31 which projects beyond the outer sides of the plug and forms projections for engaging in the bayonet slots to secure the gun outlet to the nipple 29. Seated in an opening. at one end of the nipple 29 soas to form a check valve for reventing grease from moving outwardly rom the nipple but permittingit to pass inwardly, is a ball 32 pressed against its seat by a spring 33.

Within the sleeve 27 is 34 pressed against the end of the nipple 29 when the nipple is secured within the sleeve, by a spring 35.

All of the parts are of metal except the usual leather washer in the piston 4, the coating 18, fabric 19, and the band 22.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a universally applicable grease gun which is is comparatively invulnerable to the grease and which also is reinforced against amage by the peculiar pulling and twisting incident to the use of the gun in supplying grease.

While the invention has been illustrated in what is considered its best application it ing from its spirit and is'not therefore limited to the structure shown in the drawings.

What I claim is:

1. An outlet for a universal grease gun having a forcing the outlet having a fiexible grease resistant conduit anda covering fluid tight and flexible but less resistant to grease than said conduit. 2. An outlet for a universal grease gun having a grease reservoir and means for orcmgl the grease from said reservoir, said avin a flexible grease resistant conduit, a coverlng fluid tight .and exible but less resistant to rease than said conduit and means about said fluid tight covering for securing to the ends of sald outlet for resisting tensile strains of said outlet.

3. An outlet for a .universaPgrease gun having a grease reservoir and means ing the greasefrom said reservoir,said eutlet having a flexible grease resistant conduit, a covering lluid tight and iiexible but less resistant toV grease than said conduit and means about said fluid tight covering for securing to the ends of said outlet for resisting tensile and torsional strains of said outlet. 4. An outlet for a universal grease gun may have other embodiments without departgrease reservoir and meansv for grease from sald reservoir, sald a hollow plunger for forchaving a grease reservoir and means for :Eoro- 6. An outlet for la universal grease gun ing the grease from said reservoir, said outhaving a grease reservoir and means Jfor forc- 15 let having` a exible metal conduit formed of ing the grease from said reservoir, said outa helically disposed strip, and a rubber coverlet comprising a metal conduit formed of ing foi-'said conduit. a helically disposed strip, a rubber covering 5. An outlet for a universal grease gun for said conduit and op ositely Wound helical vhaving a' grease reservoir and means for forostrands about said rub er covering adapted 20 ing the grease from said reservoir, said outto be secured to the ends of the outlet.

let comprising a metal conduit formed of In testimony whereof Ihave s'gne'd this a. helioally disposed strip, a rubber coverin specification this seventh day of eceinber, for said Conduit and helioally dispos 1921. v strands about said rubber covering adapted to be secured to the ends of the outlet. WILLIAM H. FULTON. v 

